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Newer model available

The task of transforming your treasured LPs into audiophile-quality digital files requires a great-sounding turntable. That's why the folks at Pro-Ject added a high-fidelity phono preamp with a built-in analog-to-digital converter and USB output to their acclaimed Debut Carbon. This potent playback combination makes it a breeze to transfer music to your computer for easy archiving. Save your tunes as MP3, WAV, or other music files that you can store on your computer or download to your portable player. The built-in preamp means you can also connect the Debut Carbon USB directly to almost any audio system.

Bring your record collection into the digital age

A built-in USB phono preamp lets you connect easily to virtually any computer or audio system.

The task of transforming your treasured LPs into audiophile-quality digital files requires a great-sounding turntable. That's why the folks at Pro-Ject added a high-fidelity phono preamp with a built-in analog-to-digital converter and USB output to their acclaimed Debut Carbon. This potent playback combination makes it a breeze to transfer music to your computer for easy archiving. Save your tunes as MP3, WAV, or other music files that you can store on your computer or download to your portable player. The built-in preamp means you can also connect the Debut Carbon USB directly to almost any audio system.

Crafted for serious sound

You've probably seen cheap, plastic 'tables equipped with USB, but the Debut Carbon USB is in a completely different league. Its sturdy MDF chassis rests on shock absorbing rubber feet that provide a solid, low-resonance foundation. Its heavy steel platter spins on a precision axle and bearing for excellent speed stability and smooth, silent rotation. A decoupled motor mount and belt drive system isolates the motor's vibration from the chassis to prevent noise from being transferred to the cartridge. An external AC power supply helps reduce the chance of hum. Finally, the table's one-piece carbon fiber tonearm includes a silicone-damped lift for gently raising and lowering the arm — protecting both the stylus and your records.

Enjoy the rich sound of vinyl without the hassle

Pro-Ject knows that turntable setup can be a challenge for the novice. That's why the Debut Carbon USB comes out of the box virtually ready to play. Its pre-matched, factory-mounted phono cartridge and tonearm take the guesswork out of installation, so you can enjoy optimized sound quality with minimal effort. A few minutes to dial in key settings like tracking force, anti-skating, and platter speed are all that's needed to experience the best sound you've ever heard from your record collection.

Average Review:

Like the others said, desperately needs updated instructions.The web version helps. Those looking to use USB might start by using Audacity (free) software. The Audacity help files provide some guidance. Star rating assumes correct adjustment and connection.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon USB Reviews

Good & Bad

This is a fine turntable. Likely the best I have every heard. In fact, the difference between the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and my prior table was almost startling. However getting to that wonderful sound was not much fun. The instructions provided were dated and useless since they applied to another model. My e-mail to the manufacturer brought an automated referral to the US distributor who did respond (incorrectly) that the instructions were now correct. But at least they offered assistance if I needed it. Such a fine turntable deserves better support. I will admit that these pre-sale problems do make me nervous. What will happen if I ever have a real problem ? 4 start, would have been a 5. Good thing owners post setup instructions on You Tube (that were great) .

Pros:May be the best turntable I have ever heard.

Cons:Unfortunately the support and attention to details like updated instructions drags it way down.

6 of 6 found this helpful

Could use some help!

Like the others said, desperately needs updated instructions.The web version helps. Those looking to use USB might start by using Audacity (free) software. The Audacity help files provide some guidance. Star rating assumes correct adjustment and connection.

Pros:Solid unit. Good sound.

Cons:Tone arm and anti-skating adjustments are very fussy. Cover is nice but it too is a bit fussy to adjust.

6 of 6 found this helpful

Better instructions are needed

When buying a pricey turntable from Crutchfield, you should expect that the right instructions are in the box and that they are accurate. In my case, the instructions were entitled for a "Pro-ject Debut Carbon." I didn't notice that "USB" was missing. So I set it up and followed the instructions to the letter, which direct you to connect the cables to the "Phono input on your amplifier." That was a big mistake because the USB version has a built-in pre-amp, and should be connected to a "line level" input such as for a tape deck. In fact, at Pro-ject Audio's website, you can download the correct instructions for the USB version, and you'll find a nice red warning flag against plugging it into the phono input. The right instruction booklet should have been in the box.
Once I corrected that error, I was still unhappy with the quality of the playback. Distortion was rampant. Pro-ject Audio states that the "recommended downforce for the Ortofon OM 10 cartridge is 15 mN." But they fail to tell you that Ortofon's permissible range for the tracking force is up to 17.5 mN. Once I increased it to 17.5, the distortion went away.
So, Crutchfield, you need to make sure that the right instructions are in the box. Pro-ject Audio should provide more detail on the downforce adjustment. Otherwise, my experience has been positive.

Pros:High quality playback.

Cons:Wrong instructions in the box and are inadequate in any case.

15 of 15 found this helpful

Get manual online first

This turntable shipped with the wrong user guide so the hook-up instructions are completely wrong for this product. If you buy this, go online and get the correct manual first or you won't get Pro-ject's warning about NOT hooking up to the phono input, nor will you get any instructions about how to use the USB cable with your computer. Also, the RCA cable they sent has a faulty solder joint on the right-side line and I had no sound on that side until I jiggled the cable around for a bit.
I echo the other comments here. The sound (once you figure out how to set it up) is crisp and full. The Ortofon stylus puts out plenty of bass without being overwhelming. I have no complaints about the sound. But that anti-skate weight really needs a redesign. The finer-than-hair thin thread is barely visible and getting it over the correct notch on the tonearm is an exercise in futility. Definitely don't try putting it on if you've had too much coffee!

Pros:Warm sound, crisp treble and big bass. Made my old LPs sound like new again. Platter is heavy steel so there is little vibration and the motor is nearly silent. Carbon fiber tonearm is cool looking as well.

Cons:Wrong manual in the box, faulty RCA cable, and the anti-skate weight is a pain to set up. Balancing the tonearm is also a bit fussy but that can be said about many other turntables as well.

11 of 11 found this helpful

Warm

_ from Charlottesville VA on 12/30/2012

Great look and warm, full sound run through a beginner's setseup: Cambridge Audio Topaz AM10 (using cd channel and not phono because TT and amp's phono channel both boost the signal to create too much noise) and PSB Image B4s with a NHT sub.

Pros:Sound, overall design,

Cons:Poor set up instructions. Adjusting the weights took some time, which is to be expected. However, the anti-skating weight comes off fairly easy so patience is a virtue here.

Product Research

Features

Resonance-Reducing Construction: The attractive resonance-reducing MDF
plinth supports a heavier 300mm diameter metal platter for smoother rotation and
lower wow and flutter. Additionally, a felt record mat is employed for superior
record support and coupling. The platter and plinth assembly sits upon
four-point "O"-ring feet designed for energy absorption and the plinth-mounted
motor is isolated by a new Sorbothane suspension keeping unwanted noise and
vibration to a bare minimum. The motor is even decoupled from the plinth to
reduce vibration transmission.

Note: The turntable should be positioned on a
low-resonance surface such as wood or multiple layer ply-board to avoid
structural vibrations disturbing replay.

High-Fidelity Sound: The 8.6" single-piece tube carbon fiber
tone-arm that increases stiffness while decreasing unwanted resonances resulting
in a higher fidelity presentation of your vinyl recordings. Fitted to the carbon
fiber arm is a top-quality cartridge, the OM10 moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge by Ortofon.
This arm/cartridge combination is capable of exceptional tracking and recovery
of the musical nuance found within the records grooves.

Integrated Phono-MM Preamp w/ USB Output: Because the Debut Carbon Phono USB includes a built-in phono preamplifier with USB
output, connection to both line-level input of your hifi system and USB port on
your computer can
be done simultaneously.

RCA Output Jacks: Plinth mounted RCA output jacks allow
for the use of higher quality interconnects for even better sonic
performance. The built-in phono equalizer preamp allows you to connect the
turntable to an integrated amp or receiver that does not have a dedicated
phono input. You cannot disable the built-in phono preamp.

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what’s in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

I had almost the exact problem you described about your walls and acoustics. It bothered me so bad I built a new house with a finished basement. My suggestion to anyone that might be dealing with similar issues would be before spending money on speaker stands ect, is to use boxes or anything dependable to set speakers on to find that perfect height and position first. Also for use blankets or heavy curtains as temporary walls to dial is good acoustics for movie watching. That may sound funny but I had temporary walls as I described that only took around 3 minutes to remove after watching a movie and put away. I used brackets that easily slipped on & off the permanent walls along with round wooden closet rod, shower curtain hangers. When finished I rolled everything up and put it in the spare bedroom closet. Because everything used is temporary it doesn't matter how it looks so most of this stuff you may already have anyhow. You would be shocked how well something like this worked. More importantly the wife was ok with it since it all was removed afterwards.[ FRANK Jan 27, 2014 ]

Sorry, have no clue. I was not particularly interested in other colors.[ Mirga Jan 20, 2014 ]

The pre-amp is designed to bring the level of the signal up to a standard pre-amp level. For connecting to speakers you would still need to connect this to an amplification source (receiver, table top system, etc).[ Jeff Dec 16, 2013 ] Staff